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Auction: 19022 - Historical Documents, Postal History and Autographs
Lot: 2049

Autographs
Sir Robert Viner
1678 (8 July) instructions from "John Benet" to "Mr. Knowles" to "go to the Officers of the Tally Office at Westminster, and demand there a Tally for forty two pounds forteen shillings & ten pence interest due to me on Sir Robert Viner's Assignment at Midsomer last ...". Signed "Jo: Benet". Photo

Sir Robert Viner (1631-1688) was a British Goldsmith Banker, Sheriff of London during the Great Fire, and later Lord Mayor of the City of London (1674-75). During and after the Great Stop of the Exchequer he was owed around £400,000, making the largest debt to the Crown.

'John Benet', is unidentified in this document, but possibly John Bennet, MP for Wallingford and controversial postmaster who had been accused of 'cheating' the Commission for Indigent Officers. During the late 17th century, Bennet was accused of having taken irregular charges in the Post Offices, a claim that saw him ordered by Laurence Hyde, as Lord Treasurer, to refund £12,375


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Estimate
£100 to £120